Evaluation of optimum dietary inclusion level of probiotics for potential benefits on intestinal histomorphometry, microbiota, and pH in Japanese Quails

Table 2. Effects on small intestine histological indices (Mean ± SEM) of control, probiotics, and AGP groups in Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Parameters			Group (Mean ± SEM)				F-value	Polynomial Contrast
Parameters		Control	Probiotics 0.015gm/Bird	Probiotics 0.03gm/Bird	Probiotics 0.045gm/Bird	AGP	F-value	Linear	Quadric
Duodenum, µm	Villus Height	838.98^a±19.27	852.71^a±25.75	879.38^a±25.51	873^a±23.03	862.71^a±25.16	0.46^NS	0.768	0.373
	Crypt Depth	77.53^c±7.99	85.35^bc±6.03	117.45^a±8.98	107.56^ab±9.86	91.81^bc±6.34	4.19**	0.055	0.006
	VH : CD	11.59^a±1.5	10.29^ab±0.88	7.66^b±0.47	8.42^b±0.68	9.65^ab±0.79	2.76*	0.062	0.023
Jejunum, µm	Villus Height	462.49^b±14.79	488.21^b±8.85	599.25^a±14.38	596.54^a±14.26	563.9^a±17.8	19.47**	0.00	0.00
	Crypt Depth	49.02^a±6.36	54.42^a±6.61	67.89^a±8.58	61.59^a±7.45	57.4^a±6.92	0.98^NS	0.305	0.162
	VH : CD	10.26^a±1.4	9.62^a±1.1	9.49^a±1.13	10.8^a±1.9	10.59^a±1.41	0.17^NS	0.685	0.669
Ileum, µm	Villus Height	347.48^c±11.76	365.63^bc±15.7	417.25^a±9.81	408.11^a±10.22	387.74^ab±12.65	5.64**	0.004	0.006
	Crypt Depth	45.35^a±5.95	49.58^a±7.36	58.93^a±7.21	55.92^a±7.65	52.72^a±6.61	0.58^NS	0.349	0.307
	VH : CD	8.29^a±0.96	8.38^a±1.5	7.66^a±0.99	8.05^a±1.19	8.07^a±1.23	0.06^NS	0.84	0.83

Significant differences were determined using One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Duncan’s multiple range tests. The orthogonal polynomial contrast test was considered to ascertain the linear and quadratic effects of increasing probiotics supplementation (gm) in diets on each parameter. Differences compared to control and treated groups are ** Significant at 1% (p<0.01), * Significant at 5% (p<0.05); Figures in the row with similar alphabet (a,b,c) do not differ significantly. Villus Height and Crypt Depth ratio= VH: CD, NS= non-significant, gm= Gram, kg= Kilogram, cm= Centimeter.